Your Guide to German Christmas Markets!
The holidays are coming up and in Germany that means nearly every city, town and village will soon be aglow with Christmas lights, decorated stalls and local food and drink!
This can be the perfect time to visit Germany, and see the country at its cheeriest, but you are likely wondering which German Christmas markets are best? We made this guide to show you which markets are worth visiting, and which ones you may want to skip. First, let’s start with the basics.
Cities vs. Towns
The biggest and most exciting Christmas markets will be in the big cities, with some having half a dozen different markets all specializing in different things.
These will provide the most activity, petting zoos, ice skating and more, but they will also draw the biggest crowds.
If you want to beat the crowds and get a glimpse of the traditional German Christmas celebrations, you’ll want to get out to the small towns.
These towns will also sell more handcrafts and less mass-produced goods. If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift, you’ll want to visit a small town German Christmas market. Here are our picks for the best Christmas markets around Germany.
Esslingen
In addition to being a beautiful, historic town in its own right, Esslingen also offers what few others do - a medieval Christmas market. This is a special section of the town where they offer medieval themed activities and offer only gifts and food that could have been made during the middle ages.
There are over 500 cultural activities, including archery, candlemaking, catapult shooting and more! If you have kids with you, all Christmas markets will likely offer plenty to do but this one is probably the best for kids.
Michelstadt
If you’re looking to see classic small town Germany but off the beaten track, Michelstadt is the place to go. This town is the perfect size, just big enough that you can lose yourself in the little cobblestone streets, but not too big that it feels bustling. If you really want to see it shine, visit during Christmas time!
The main Marktplatz is where all the action happens and it’s home to the historic Rathaus (town hall) which has become a simple part of the town. If you get to the market on the early side, you may be able to get into the town hall to view the markets from inside.
Heidelberg
Heidelberg is probably the least hidden of the three markets, but still is far less crowded than the more famous one at Köln. With 3 different Christmas markets, this little city has a lot to offer, including ice skating rinks and creches filled with animals that kids can pet.
There are three main markets in Heidelberg, at Karlsplatz, Universitätsplatz and Kornmarkt. If you want the iconic view with the castle in the background, head over to Kornmarktplatz.
